Community Stats

Converted

Location

Atlanta

Favorite NFL Team

Panthers

Most hated NFL Team

Bucs

What you should know

I've always had a strong affinity for bacon. At the present moment, I am campaigning for these delicious slices of pig. Bacon shouldn't need PR or any form of strategic marketing. After all, it is bacon. It cooks in it's own fat! Does it get any better than that? I think not.

But, for some reason, I feel the need to represent bacon and its unyielding greatness. First of all, it tastes magical. This we know. Fact. But did you know that bacon is good for you? That's right, bacon is good for you. It helps prevent prostate and breast cancer, strengthens the immune system, fights off hepatitis, prevents the development of cataracts, improves metabolism, and helps maintain a healthy nervous system. Even alcoholics and smokers can benefit from bacon!

How could this be possible? Well, bacon is an excellent source of selenium, thiamin and B12.

Selenium

Selenium activates an antioxidant enzyme called glutathione peroxidase, which may help protect the body from cancer. Yeast-derived forms of selenium have induced &quot;apoptosis&quot; (programmed cell death) in cancer cells in test tubes and in animals. A double-blind trial that included over 1,300 people found those given 200 mcg of yeast-based selenium per day for 4.5 years had a 50% drop in the cancer death rate compared with the placebo group. Another study found that men consuming the most dietary selenium (assessed indirectly by measuring toenail selenium levels) developed 65% fewer cases of advanced prostate cancer than did men with the lowest levels of selenium intake.

Selenium is also essential for healthy immune function. Selenium supplementation has reduced the incidence of viral hepatitis in selenium-deficient populations, presumably by enhancing immune function. Even in a non-deficient population of elderly people, selenium supplementation has been found to stimulate the activity of white blood cells—primary components of the immune system. Selenium is also needed to activate thyroid hormones.

In a double-blind trial, selenium supplementation of infertile men improved the motility of sperm cells and increased the chance of conception.

Thiamin

Thiamine works with the other B vitamins to change protein, carbohydrate, and fat to energy. It is especially vital for changing carbohydrates to energy. It is a key factor in the healthy functioning of all the body's cells, especially the nerves. Vitamin B1 helps the body cells convert carbohydrates into energy. It is also essential for the functioning of the heart, muscles, and nervous system.

Supplemental thiamin can help protect against some of the metabolic imbalances caused by heavy alcohol consumption. It may help protect against Wernicke's encephalopathy and some other forms of brain damage seen in some alcoholics.

B12

Vitamin B12 may help restrain pre-cancerous lung conditions in smokers. It also might help improve neuropsychiatric disorder symptoms in those with HIV and chronic fatigue. Breast cancer and some vascular diseases might be prevented by vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12 works with folate to create building blocks for RNA and DNA synthesis and the synthesis of molecules that help maintain the proper functioning of the genome. The vitamin also helps the nervous system function properly and aides in molecule synthesis involved in energy production and in fatty acid biosynthesis.

So come on people, jump on the bandwagon and get bacon in your corner. You can find it at your local grocery store, or around the belly of your neighbor's oink oink. If you opt for the grocery store, I suggest the center cut. None of that maple sh*t. You can always put syrup on it later.